charging BMW I8 2014 I12 Owner's Manual

A SUSTAINABLE COMBINATION:
INTELLIGENT ENERGY MANAGEMENT
FOR INSPIRING PERFORMANCE AND
OPTIMUM EFFICIENCY.
BMW has been pursuing its EfficientDynamics strategy for more than
a decade. However, no other vehicle combines driving pleasure and
sustainability like the BMW i8. Equipped with innovative BMW eDrive
technology that intelligently combines an internal combustion engine
with an electric drive system, the BMW i8 offers maximum perfor-
mance and sustainable efficiency.

In an urban environment, the BMW i8 offers a range of up to 37 kilo-
meters when traveling on electric power only. For longer distances,
support is provided by the BMW TwinPower Turbo engine – with an
especially intense boost feature in SPORT mode or maximum efficiency
in ECO PRO mode. A predictive power management system developed
specifically for the BMW i8 ensures optimal settings for the two drive
units at all times.

Additionally, every driver can also help to optimize sustainability when
recharging the car: if renewable energy is used to charge the battery,
CO² emissions are reduced even further. Therefore, BMW i recom-
mends green electricity suppliers to make an even greater contributi-
on to environmental protection.
03. UTILIZATION
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Addendum
vehicle only be carried out by an
authorized BMW i service center or
one that operates according to
BMW i specifications with personnel
trained accordingly. If work is not
carried out properly, there is the risk
of fire and fatal injury from
electrocution due to the high-
voltage system's high voltage.”
6.At page 8, under the “Parts and
Accessories” section, in the sixth
sentence, the word “cannot” should
read “does not.”
7.At page 51, in the “Check and
replace safety belts” section, the
text beginning, “This should only be
done by your service center . . .”
should be disregarded and the
following text should be read in lieu
thereof: “BMW recommends having
this work performed by a service
center as it is important that this
safety feature functions properly.”
8.At page 88, under the heading:
“Special windshield,” the paragraph
beginning, “Therefore, have the
special windshield . . .” should be
disregarded and the following text
should be read in lieu thereof:
“BMW recommends that you have
the special windshield replaced by
the service center.”
9.At page 137 under the heading:
“Objects in the range of movement
of the pedals” and at page 182 and
page 183 under the heading:
“Carpets and floor mats,” the
paragraph that begins: “Only use
floor mats . . .” should be
disregarded and the following
language should be read in lieu
thereof: “The manufacturer of your
vehicle recommends that you use
floor mats that have been identified
by it as appropriate for use in your
vehicle and that can be properly
fixed in place.”
10.At page 141, under the heading:
“Have maintenance carried out,” the
sentence beginning, “The
maintenance should be carried out .
. .” should be disregarded and the
following text should be read in lieu
thereof: “BMW recommends that
you have the maintenance carried
out by your service center.”
11.At page 147, under the heading
“Make sure that the charging device
is in flawless operating condition,”
the word “flawless” should read
“proper.”
12.At page 159, under the heading
“Tire inflation pressure
specifications,” the sentence
beginning, “Tire inflation pressure
specifications apply to approved tire
sizes . . . .” should be disregarded.
13.At page 163, under the heading:
“Mounting,” the paragraph
beginning, “Have mounting and
balancing . . .” should be
disregarded and the following text
should be read in lieu thereof:
“BMW recommends that you have
mounting and balancing performed
by your service center or a tire
mounting specialist.”
14.At page 163, under the heading:
“Approved wheels and tires,” the

ContentsThe fastest way to find information on a partic‐
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page 190.6Notes
At a glance
14Cockpit18iDrive26Voice activation system29Integrated Owner's Manual in the vehicle31BMW eDRIVE
Controls
36Opening and closing48Adjusting54Transporting children safely58Driving72Displays89Lights93Safety105Driving stability control systems109Driving comfort120Climate control125Interior equipment130Storage compartments
Driving tips
134Things to remember when driving138Loading140Increase rangeMobility146Charging vehicle154Refueling157Fuel159Wheels and tires165Engine oil169Coolant170Maintenance172Replacing components175Breakdown assistance180Care
Reference
186Technical data188Appendix190Everything from A to Z
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BMW eDRIVEVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
BMW eDRIVEAt a glance1Vehicle battery2Electrical drive unit3High-voltage battery4Fuel filler flap5Combustion engine6Charging port
The concept The hybrid system makes it possible to opti‐
mize fuel consumption and driving characteris‐
tics.
An electric motor assists the combustion en‐
gine. In certain driving situations, the vehicle
can also be driven using only electric power,
thereby reducing fuel consumption.
In addition to this, the electric motor acts like
an alternator: during braking and coasting, it
converts the vehicle's kinetic energy into elec‐ tricity. The current is stored in the high-voltage
battery and is used to drive the electric motor.
Functions
Acceleration boost: ASSIST and eBOOST
Driving off and accelerating require a lot of en‐
ergy. To reduce fuel consumption during high
acceleration and to optimize acceleration, the
electric motor supports the combustion en‐
gine. For this purpose, the electric motor is
supplied by the high-voltage battery.
Electric driving: ePOWER
Under certain conditions, refer to page 61,
the vehicle is powered only by the electric mo‐
tor.
Variable drive configuration
The electric motor drives the front axle and the
combustion engine the rear axle. Depending
on the operating condition, the vehicle has the
options of front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive
or bundled for four-wheel drive.
Follow instructions for electric driving eDRIVE,
refer to page 61, driving with the combustion
engine DRIVE, refer to page 62, and driving
stability, refer to page 105.
Acoustic pedestrian protection Depending on the country variant, the system
generates an artificial engine sound during
electric driving up to approx. 20 mph/30 km/h.
Driving with the combustion engine:
POWER
The combustion engine provides the perform‐
ance to move the vehicle. If necessary, theSeite 31BMW eDRIVEAt a glance31
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high-voltage battery is charged at the same
time.
The hybrid system always starts the combus‐
tion engine automatically.
Energy recovery: CHARGE The high-voltage battery is charged while driv‐
ing through energy recovery.
The electric motor acts as a generator and
converts the kinetic energy of the vehicle into
electric current.
Charging can take place in various situations
while the vehicle is in motion:▷When the vehicle is rolling if the accelera‐
tor pedal is not pressed.▷During vehicle braking.
When exerting gentle pressure on the brakes,
the vehicle is only braked by the electric motor.
When the brake pedal is depressed further, the
brake system is activated additionally. This is
why only part of the brake energy is used to
charge the high-voltage battery when exerting
firm pressure on the brake.
The mark in the instrument cluster is located
within the CHARGE range.
Sensible driving and early speed reduction are
important to make full use of the energy recov‐
ery feature.
Display The eDRIVE displays, refer to page 72, pro‐
vide information about the current state of the
drive and visualize the system's use in a dia‐
gram.
Energy-saving driving To save energy while driving, read the follow‐
ing information:
Before driving eDRIVE allows using the air conditioner even
before driving off. The stationary climate con‐
trol, refer to page 123, provides more range
than full air conditioning while driving.
Parked car ventilation during the charging
process can provide maximum range when
driving off.
During driving▷General driving tips, refer to page 140, for
increasing the range.▷Use the eDRIVE system efficiently, refer to
page 134, for an optimized driving style.▷ECO PRO mode, refer to page 141, for in‐
creasing the range.▷Display of hybrid system utilization, refer to
page 75▷Hints for saving fuel, refer to page 140, for
reduction of the fuel consumption.
After the trip
▷Charge vehicle, refer to page 146, and
plan next trip.▷Prepare for long downtimes, refer to
page 183.
BMW i Remote app
A special BMW i Remote App allows to control
and display certain vehicle functions using a
smartphone.
Safety information Read the information on safe handling of the
high-voltage system, refer to page 178.
Long-term Follow the instructions for vehicle storage and
for longer idle periods, refer to page 183.
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4.Insert a battery of the same type with the
positive side facing up.5.Press the cover closed.
Take the used battery to a recycling
center or to your service center.
New remote controls New remote controls are available from the
service center.
Loss of the remote controls Lost remote controls can be disabled by your
service center.
Emergency detection of remote
control
Also in the following situations, radio-ready
state and drive readiness can be established:
▷Interference of radio transmission to re‐
mote control by external sources e.g., by
radio masts.▷Empty battery in remote control.▷Interference from radio transmissions
through mobile devices in close proximity
to remote control.▷Interference of radio transmission by
charger while charging items such as mo‐
bile devices in the vehicle.
A Check Control message is displayed if one
attempts to turn on the radio-ready state or ac‐
tivate engine readiness.
Activation of drive readiness via
emergency detection of the remote
control
If a respective Check Control message ap‐
pears, hold the remote control with its back
against the marked area on the steering col‐
umn. The BMW logo on the remote control
should be at the same height as the marked
area. Press the Start/Stop button within
10 seconds while pressing the brake pedal.
If the remote control is not recognized: slightly
change the height position of the remote con‐
trol and repeat the procedure.
Personal Profile
The concept Individual settings in the vehicle are saved in
personal profiles. Every remote control is as‐
signed the last active profile.
Three personal profiles and a guest profile can
be created.
▷Changes to the settings are automatically
saved in the profile currently activated.▷Unlocking the car activates the profile that
is stored in the remote control.▷Your personal settings will be recognized
and activated even if the vehicle had been
operated with another remote control.
Adjusting
The settings for the following systems and
functions are saved in the active profile. The
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Lighting lights up steady blue
After drive readiness is switched on, light turns
blue. The vehicle is ready to drive. The READY
indicator lights up in the instrument cluster. In
addition, a signal sounds.
Lighting off
Drive readiness, operating readiness and
radio-ready state are turned off. The vehicle is
in the idle state. The charging cable may be
connected.
Activating drive readiness1.Close the driver's door.2.Depress the brake pedal.3.Press the Start/Stop button.
Drive readiness is active, electric driving, Silent
Start or Start of the combustion engine.
Electric drive readiness, Silent Start
The vehicle is ready for driving without starting
the combustion engine.
Silent Start is possible if the requirements for
Electric driving, refer to page 61, are met.
Display READY indicates drive readi‐
ness.
Starting the combustion engine Enclosed areas
Do not let the engine run in enclosed
areas, since breathing in exhaust fumes may
lead to loss of consciousness and death. The
exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, an
odorless and colorless but highly toxic gas.◀
Unattended vehicle
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
engine running or drive readiness switched on;
otherwise, it may pose a risk.
Before leaving the vehicle, engage lever in po‐
sition P P, and set the parking brake; other‐
wise, the vehicle is not secured against rolling
away.◀
Repeated starting in quick succession
Avoid trying to start the vehicle repeat‐
edly and in quick succession. Otherwise, the
fuel is not burned or is inadequately burned,
posing a risk of overheating and damage to the
catalytic converter.◀
The combustion engine is started with Acti‐
vate drive, refer to page 60, readiness under
the following conditions:▷The temperature of the hybrid system is
too high.▷The charge level or temperature of the
high-voltage battery is too low.
Driving away
1.Activate drive readiness.2.Apply the brake and engage lever in posi‐
tion P D, SPORT or R.3.Release the parking brake.4.Drive away.
Deactivating drive readiness
After parking the vehicle, you may hear noises due to operation of the hybrid system, such as
for cooling of the high-voltage battery.
After stopping the vehicle:
1.Depress the brake pedal.2.Set the parking brake.3.Press the Start/Stop button.
The READY indicator goes out and a signal
sounds. In case of longer idle times, follow the
instructions in the Care chapter, refer to
page 183.
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Before driving into a car wash
So that the vehicle can roll into a car wash ob‐
serve instructions for going into an automatic
car wash, refer to page 180.
Electric driving: ePOWER
Note Awareness of vehicle reduced when
driven in electric mode
When driving in electric mode, note that, due
to the lack of engine noise, pedestrians and
other traffic might pay less attention to the ve‐
hicle due to missing engine noises. Please
take special care when parking or leaving a
parking space.◀
General information
In ePOWER, the vehicle is driven exclusively
electrically. ePOWER works automatically.
Depending on the charging state of the high-
voltage battery, maximum speed and range
achieved can vary.
For electrical driving, certain Conditions, refer
to page 61, must be satisfied.
Requirements▷State of charge and temperature of the
high-voltage battery is sufficient.▷Selector lever position D or R engaged.▷The accelerator pedal is only slightly de‐
pressed.▷The possible maximum speed for electric
driving is not exceeded.▷The driver's door is closed.
Auto eDRIVE
General information
With each starting operation, Auto eDRIVE is
activated using the Start/Stop button.
In Auto eDRIVE, the vehicle is driven in hybrid
mode corresponding to the various driving sit‐
uations, i.e. the drive alternates between the
combustion engine and electric motor.
SAVE Battery, maintaining charging
state
Should it be necessary, e.g., to conserve the
electrical range for a later point in time on the
trip, the current charging state of the high-volt‐
age battery can be maintained with this func‐
tion.
The function is possible under the following
conditions:▷The fuel fill level is sufficient.▷Engaged selector lever position D▷Drive mode Auto eDrive
Switching on/off
1."Settings"2."Auto eDRIVE"3."Hold state of charge"
MAX eDRIVE
General information Max eDRIVE forces electric driv‐
ing.
With Max eDRIVE, a speed of
approx. 75 mph, approx.
120 km/h is possible.
In special situations, the speed limit can con‐
sciously be exceeded by applying the acceler‐
ator pedal beyond the full throttle point, kick‐
down. The combustion engine is automatically
activated and switched into AUTO eDRIVE
mode.
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12Fuel gauge  7913Computer  83Variable drive mode displays
ECO PRO displays In ECO PRO, the instrument cluster switches
to the ECO PRO displays. These displays sup‐
port a driving style that saves on fuel con‐
sumption with more prominent representation
of the efficiency display and various ECO PRO
tips. ECO PRO, refer to page 141.Sport program displays
In the Sport program, the instrument cluster
switches the instrument cluster to the Sport
displays. These displays support a sporty driv‐
ing style with more prominent representation
of the tachometer and a clearer representation
of the eBOOST performance in the form of a
blue illuminated ring.
Charging screen
1Charging screen   1512End of charging time   151
Departure time with timer   1513Maximum electrical range   1514Stationary climate control  1515Range for electric driving  1516Charging state  74Seite 73DisplaysControls73
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Displays of the hybrid
system
Displays in the instrument cluster
The concept The following functions of the hybrid system
are displayed:▷Maintaining charging state, refer to
page 61.▷Electric driving: ePOWER, refer to page 61,
and MAX eDRIVE, refer to page 61.▷Acceleration boost: eBOOST.▷Energy recovery: CHARGE.▷Auto Start/Stop function and active drive
readiness: READY.
The display depends on the system's operat‐
ing condition.
High-voltage battery charge indicator
High voltage
Even if no bars are displayed in the bat‐
tery symbol, the high-voltage system is still
under high voltage.◀
The fill level bars indicate the available charg‐
ing state of the high-voltage battery when op‐
erating readiness and drive readiness are
switched on.
In addition, the range for electric driving is dis‐
played.
Maintaining charging state
In the Maintaining charging state mode, the
arrow indicates the charging state of the high-
voltage battery that should be conserved for a
later point in the trip.
▷Gray arrow: maintaining charging state
mode deactivated.▷Orange arrow: maintaining charging state
mode activated.
Activating/deactivating the Maintaining charg‐
ing state mode, refer to page 61.
Electric driving: ePOWER
The inner narrow blue stripe, arrow 1, marks
the range for electric driving.
If a white mark is located in the range after the
stripe, arrow 2, the combustion engine is
switched on.
In COMFORT and ECO PRO driving mode, the
specified power of the electric motor and the
internal combustion engine is indicated by a
white mark, arrow 3.
In ECO PRO mode, the range for efficient driv‐
ing style is colored blue, arrow 4.
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